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Fire forming ?

butcher307

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 23, 2008
97
0
44
Cody Wyoming
I just bought a 280 ackley, I went out with some 280 ammo and fire formed it. I have experienced what looks like case head separation can this be caused by fire forming? Any help would be greatly appreciated. The gun is still holding 1 inch accuracy at 100 yards with regular factory 150 grain federal ammo.
 
Re: Fire forming ?

Your head spacing might be the issue. When I had my 280AI built, I bought some factory 280 ammmo. At the advice of my smith, I used an inertia hammer type bullet puller to "pull" the bullet out so it would jam into the lands (semi hard to close the bolt on a round), thereby insuring that the casehead was tight to the bolt face. IF your headspace chambering is not too long, the brass should fireform without problems. If you suspect excessive headspace, have your smith check it out. I had a chamber cast made and bought the actual cast to take to my smith to see (5 hrs. away)so any measuring mistake would not be an issue. Get it checked BEFORE you have a kaboom problem! BTW....get some Nosler brass. Expensive.....worth it....

my .02
Good luck